In honour of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, it seemed only fitting to pay a visit to Bath, where the writer lived from 1801 to 1806 and which this year is going all out with the celebrations. If you like dressing up in Regency gowns and dancing with a lookalike Mr Darcy, this is the place to be!
Jane Austen even mentioned dogs in her novels, specifically a pug belonging to Lady Bertram in Mansfield Park, who was apparently a symbol of his owner’s laziness, but pooches were mostly ‘extras’ in her domestic dramas, so I guess I wouldn’t find her books very relatable.
Anyway, even if you’re not on board when it comes to Regency novels there are so many other things about Bath which we adored; the buzz, the history and its handsomeness.
“It was a place where people came to dance, gamble and flirt,” I overheard a tour guide tell his entourage as we made our way to the area surrounding the famous Roman Baths. Plus ça change!
There’s history on every corner from the famous Royal Crescent to beautiful Bath Abbey, and it’s the perfect walking city, so great for dogs!
We stayed at the Roseate Villa, which is an elegant five-star hotel less than a ten-minute stroll away from the centre of the city, bordered by Henrietta Park, handy for walks and ball chasing.
We all, especially I, got a wonderful, very happy welcome from Christiana at the desk on our arrival, and after her lovely greeting we were shown to a very pretty, light and airy room, with a beautiful cool turquoise colour scheme which gave it a relaxing feel.
Roseate Villa isn’t just doggy-tolerant; it positively welcomes you, so while the humans had fluffy white bathrobes and hotel slippers, a fridge and Penhaligon toiletries to enjoy, I got a Woof Box – including a dog’s dinner, salmon and trout treats, a ball and poop bags. There were even Sophie Allport mugs with pictures of little dogs on them!
I loved that the park was just minutes away from the hotel and that I was also allowed into the dining room as the humans were treated to an indulgent (is there any other kind?) afternoon tea. They enjoyed an intriguing array of sandwiches like pulled pork and hoisin sauce, grilled aubergine with hummus and spinach and cakes exquisitely crafted by the in-house baker, accompanied by delicious sencha green tea and the hotel’s Roseate blend poured into China cups and served on starched white table linen. So Jane Austen!
The gorgeous attention to detail makes this a very special place. During warmer weather the afternoon tea is served in the villa’s lovely garden, a hideaway from all the bustle of Bath city during the height of the tourist season.
The Roseate Villa does a package which includes a stay, afternoon tea and breakfast. I was quivering with excitement when I was presented with a bowl filled with sausages the next morning. It was fine for me to join the humans in the dining room while they indulged in a full English breakfast and a vegetarian breakfast of exceptionally fine ingredients, perfectly cooked.
Some pets get a woof deal when they accompany their dog family to a place, but I can happily report that Bath is not one of them. It’s fabulous.
Peppa was a guest of Visit Bath: visitbath.co.uk
Thanks to: www.roseatehotels.com/bath/theroseatevilla/
By Janet Reeder | Images Paul Morgans
